Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Up here in the Great Northern Woods, as the weather begins to cool down, the lakes will do the same until eventually one morning when you rise up out of bed, you will look out your window and see a thin film of ice that formed on the lake overnight. It seems that almost immediately you begin to think about ice skating, sledding or ice fishing, but it’s going to take a little time until those days come. This is because the ice needs to go through a period of strengthening. Each year we hear reports about certain animals who venture onto the ice and fall through, because it isn’t strong enough enough to support the weight of their walk.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
As a newborn believer, our faith is very young and new, very much like a fresh sheet of lake ice, but there is a stage of development that each of us must go through in order to safety cross over to the other side. Our faith needs to grow strong enough to support our walk. Just as the ice grows steadily thicker each cold winter night, we must strengthen our faith each day with layers of scripture, We must go on unto maturity, if we are ever going to be able walk in the high calling that God wants us to achieve. The world is a lake that is filled with all kinds of dangers and temptations, but we must be capable of rising above them and overcoming the lusts of the carnal nature. God expects nothing less than our perfection, and to attain this, we must continue to remain strong in our faith, never allowing ourselves to fall through a section of thin ice.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Each day, we must steadfastly walk in the teachings of Christ, being capable of overcoming temptations when they arise. To do this, our faith must be strong and firm, so that we can walk through this world without falling through the ice and plunging into sinful living. Our faith needs to be very strong and protective, like armor that shields us from the sins of this place.
Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us. We must never doubt that we can overcome sin, because when our faith is strong, we will never break through the ice. In Christ, we are capable of conquering sin through the power of the Holy Spirit, and walking at a level that once seemed impossible to attain.
Matthew 14:24-31 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
When we possess faith in Christ, we will trust His guidance and teachings found throughout scripture. You must become doers of the Word, rather than just hearers only. When we humbly and actively submit to them, we can become victorious over sin.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
To obtain entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of Christ, we must escape the clutches of sin through repentance and transformation. Instead of swimming in the mud, we need to clean up and stand on the shore.
2 Peter 1:4-11 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Our faith must mature and become strong if we are eventually going to walk in the high calling of Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 3:17-18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Our faith must be strong enough to support the weight of our walk. It must be firm enough to prevent us from getting involved with sin. It must be strong enough so that we can walk across the water, and never fall through a section of…..
……Thin Ice
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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